Bethlehem City Council appears set to approve a streamlined plan for snow removal.

The council's public works committee last night approved a plan by Public Works Director Wendell Sherman that allows snow plows to spend less time on major streets in order to move more quickly to side streets.

Roughly half the official snow emergency routes have been eliminated, meaning the city will no longer be forced to tow cars along those routes. Last year, almost 300 cars were towed during the heavy snowfall, Police Commissioner John Yerk said.

Snow plow drivers also will no longer be required to clear emergency routes curb to curb. Rather, they are asked to clear only enough to allow traffic to pass and cars to park.

Sherman said the old emergency map was too large to manage effectively with the number of plows the city has. Residents last year besieged City Hall with complaints about snow removal.

The plan takes effect during snow emergencies. Those roads removed from the emergency plan will remain priority snow removal routes. That means crews plow them before moving on to side streets, but don't have to stop to have cars towed.

"I think the plan is better defined now," said Sherman, adding that the plan was still subject to some refinement. "We felt we wanted to get some major arteries east and west and north and south."

In particular, Sherman said the old plan included many school bus routes even though school was often closed during snow emergencies.

Sherman added that the city has also begun to inventory potential parking areas around the city that can be used to get cars off the streets temporarily and aid snow removal. The city is preparing to approach the various private lot owners to ask for their assistance.